What to do in Egypt in 10 days

What to do in Egypt in 10 days

Tip: Fly into Cairo International Airport

3 Days in Cairo

As chaotic as the capital of Egypt can be, with its impressive and iconic landmarks, Cairo is rich in world history. If you are coming to Egypt, you are going to inevitably see Cairo and its sites. Once you ignore and accept Cairo’s fascinating chaos you will find yourself traveling back in time.

• Visit the first and oldest Step Pyramid of Djoser in Sakkara.
• Go to Dahshur’s Red and Bent Pyramids and make sure to enter the Red Pyramid.
• Admire the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.
• See the contrast with Islamic Cairo by visiting Coptic Cairo’s Churches.
• Visit Cairo’s Islamic Mosques and get the best view of the city from Saladin’s citadel.
• Scavenge for deals in the small alleys of Khan El-Khalili Market.
• Travel back in time with a visit to the Egyptian Museum.

Check out our travel tips on how to best experience Cairo

2 Days in Luxor

Likely to become a favorite on your Egypt trip. The entire city is an open-air museum full of stunning, well-preserved ancient Egyptian temples. Sitting on the banks of the Nile river, this ancient city remains one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. To this day, tombs and mummies are still being discovered in the area.

• Admire the massive columns in the temple complexes of both Karnak and Luxor.
• Make a quick pit stop to see the two massive 18-meter-high stone statues of the Colossi of Memnon.
• Visit the first female pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut’s temple.
• Explore the Valley of the Kings, and visit the tomb of the world-famous pharaoh Tutankhamun.
• Ride a hot air balloon over the Nile during sunrise.

2 Days in Aswan

Aswan is located in the South of Egypt. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful city in Egypt. Besides being surrounded by breathtaking views of the Nile, much like the rest of the country, it has some of Egypt’s coolest temples.

• Take a day trip to Egypt’s world-renowned temple, Abu Simbel.
• See Philae Temple on the island of lovers.
• Check out mummified crocodiles in Kom Ombo temple.
• Visit the colorful and enchanting Nubian villages.
• Hop on a felucca ride during sunset.

See our guide to visiting the colorful and enchanting Nubian villages!

3 Days in Siwa Oasis

Siwa is an oasis town hidden deep at the edges of Egypt’s Western Desert. This hard-to-reach gem is like nowhere else on this planet. From floating in salt pools to off-roading and camping in the Great Sand Sea, Siwa Oasis has everything to offer for an authentic desert experience.

You can do everything from:

• Floating in beautiful salt pools.
• Off-roading over sand dunes.
• Swimming in Cleopatra’s pool.
• Stargazing in a desert camp in the middle of the Great Sand Sea.

How to get around in Egypt?

You can drive, take a train, or fly. Both trains and flights cost about the same. However, trains usually take longer and experience delays. Driving in Egypt is also an option. However, it isn’t always reasonable due to long distances. Therefore, the absolute best way to travel within the country is to fly. The two airlines that fly domestically in Egypt are Egyptair and Nile Air.

We opted for the night train from Cairo to Luxor. The train took about 12 hours. After two days in Luxor, we booked a private tour through a travel agency, which included a private car, a driver, and a guide at all times. From Luxor, we were driven to Aswan (4 hours) and visited Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. Included in the package was a day trip to visit Abu Simbel (a 3.5 to 5-hour drive).

For our last three days in Egypt, we wanted to experience the desert. However, if you are looking to travel to Siwa Oasis you will find out that it can be quite tricky, so our best option was to fly back to Cairo. Since Siwa is located 700 kilometers from Cairo (approximately an 8-hour drive) and we didn’t have enough time for the long bus journeys (approximately 10 to 12 hours) we decided to book a tour through a travel operator. This option was quite pricey, but it worked out best for us. After 10 amazing days in Egypt, we returned to Cairo to catch our flight home.

You can read more about our trip to Siwa Oasis here

How much time should you spend in Egypt?

I recommend spending at least a week in Egypt, but ideally, you should opt for 10 days. With this itinerary, you can see the country’s major highlights. In the end, it depends on what you like to see, whether it is historical sites, camping in the desert or swimming in the Red Sea. Most likely by the time you’re done with your trip to Egypt, you’ll already be planning another trip back!

Note: A visa is required to enter Egypt. This can be either purchased on arrival for US$25 or submit an online request form prior to traveling.

Did you Know

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